West Coast EMT Block #1
Mentally competent patients have the right to refuse treatment. T/F?
True
When a patient is unconscious, you may provide treatment under the concept of
_________________.
Implied consent
List conditions where minors may, by state law, give consent for medical care
despite their young age.
Married, armed services, pregnant
__________ is sometimes necessary when you are confronted with a patient who
is in need of medical treatment and transportation but is combative and presents
a significant risk of danger to himself, herself, or others.
Forcible restraint
What is the difference between advance directives and DNR orders?
An advance directive is a written document that specifies the types of care a patient
would want if she were unable to express it herself. A DNR order prevents resuscitative
efforts from starting if a patient goes into cardiac arrest.
You respond to the home of a 72-year-old cancer patient with a valid DNR order.
The patient's family has called because he is having difficulty breathing. Should
you give him oxygen?
Yes. A DNR order only applies to resuscitative measures (ventilation, chest
compressions, and defibrillation). The EMT must perform all other measures in his
scope of practice to make DNR patients comfortable and safe, including giving oxygen,
stopping bleeding, applying splints, etc.
The laws that define what an EMT can do are called _________________.
Scope of Practice
What four elements must be present to prove negligence?
Duty, Breach of Duty, Damages and Causation
Despite the expressed refusal of care by a competent 40-year-old patient, you
splint an ankle that you believe may be sprained. What crime have you committed
by doing this?
Battery
List four special situations that may, based on state or local laws, have to be
reported.
Any four of the following: Abuse, injury during a felony, drug-related injuries, childbirth,
scene of a crime, deceased patient, exposure to infectious disease
The first key rule of lifting is to ____________.
keep the back in a straight, upright position and lift without twisting.
What are the six steps of a power lift as described in Skill Drill 35-1?
1. Tighten your back in its normal upright position and use your abdominal muscles to
lock it in a slight curve.
2. Spread your legs apart about 15″, and bend your legs to lower your torso and arms.
3. With your arms extended down each side of your body, grasp the stretcher or
, backboard with your hands held palms up and just in front of the plane described by the
anterior torso and imaginary lines extending vertically from it to the ground.
4. Adjust your orientation and position until the weight is balanced and centered
between both arms.
5. Reposition your feet as necessary so that they are about 15″ apart with one slightly
farther forward and rotated so that you and your center of gravity will be properly
balanced between them. Be sure to straddle the object, keep your feet flat, and
distribute your weight to the balls of the feet or just behind them.
6. With your arms extended downward, lift by straightening your legs until you are fully
standing. Make sure your back is locked and that your upper body comes up before
your hips.
Which direction should the palms be facing when lifting?
Up
Describe the diamond carry.
One EMT at the head end, one EMT at the foot end, and an EMT on each side of the
patient's torso.
Which end of the backboard should go down a flight of stairs first when carrying
a patient on a backboard?
Foot End
Where is most of the weight when carrying a patient in a supine position?
Head End
How far is safe to extend your arms when pulling a patient?
15″ to 20″ in front of your torso
List the four emergency drags that can be used to move patients from life-
threatening scenes.
Clothes drag, blanket drag, arm drag, arm-to-arm drag
In what situations may you use the rapid extrication technique?
The vehicle or scene is unsafe.
• Explosives or other hazardous materials are on scene.
• There is a fire or danger of fire.
• The patient cannot be properly assessed before being removed from the vehicle.
• The patient needs immediate intervention that requires a supine position.
• The patient has a life-threatening position that requires immediate transport to the
hospital.
• The patient blocks your access to another seriously injured patient.
What lift should be used for patients without spinal trauma who are lying supine
on the ground?
Direct Ground Lift
_____ uses various communication techniques and strategies, both verbal and
nonverbal, to encourage patients to express how they are feeling and to achieve a
positive relationship with the patient.
Therapeutic Communication
What are five factors and strategies to consider during communication?
age, eye contact, body language, facial expression and educational background.
When you consider your own cultural values as more important when you are
interacting with people of a different culture, you are displaying...
Mentally competent patients have the right to refuse treatment. T/F?
True
When a patient is unconscious, you may provide treatment under the concept of
_________________.
Implied consent
List conditions where minors may, by state law, give consent for medical care
despite their young age.
Married, armed services, pregnant
__________ is sometimes necessary when you are confronted with a patient who
is in need of medical treatment and transportation but is combative and presents
a significant risk of danger to himself, herself, or others.
Forcible restraint
What is the difference between advance directives and DNR orders?
An advance directive is a written document that specifies the types of care a patient
would want if she were unable to express it herself. A DNR order prevents resuscitative
efforts from starting if a patient goes into cardiac arrest.
You respond to the home of a 72-year-old cancer patient with a valid DNR order.
The patient's family has called because he is having difficulty breathing. Should
you give him oxygen?
Yes. A DNR order only applies to resuscitative measures (ventilation, chest
compressions, and defibrillation). The EMT must perform all other measures in his
scope of practice to make DNR patients comfortable and safe, including giving oxygen,
stopping bleeding, applying splints, etc.
The laws that define what an EMT can do are called _________________.
Scope of Practice
What four elements must be present to prove negligence?
Duty, Breach of Duty, Damages and Causation
Despite the expressed refusal of care by a competent 40-year-old patient, you
splint an ankle that you believe may be sprained. What crime have you committed
by doing this?
Battery
List four special situations that may, based on state or local laws, have to be
reported.
Any four of the following: Abuse, injury during a felony, drug-related injuries, childbirth,
scene of a crime, deceased patient, exposure to infectious disease
The first key rule of lifting is to ____________.
keep the back in a straight, upright position and lift without twisting.
What are the six steps of a power lift as described in Skill Drill 35-1?
1. Tighten your back in its normal upright position and use your abdominal muscles to
lock it in a slight curve.
2. Spread your legs apart about 15″, and bend your legs to lower your torso and arms.
3. With your arms extended down each side of your body, grasp the stretcher or
, backboard with your hands held palms up and just in front of the plane described by the
anterior torso and imaginary lines extending vertically from it to the ground.
4. Adjust your orientation and position until the weight is balanced and centered
between both arms.
5. Reposition your feet as necessary so that they are about 15″ apart with one slightly
farther forward and rotated so that you and your center of gravity will be properly
balanced between them. Be sure to straddle the object, keep your feet flat, and
distribute your weight to the balls of the feet or just behind them.
6. With your arms extended downward, lift by straightening your legs until you are fully
standing. Make sure your back is locked and that your upper body comes up before
your hips.
Which direction should the palms be facing when lifting?
Up
Describe the diamond carry.
One EMT at the head end, one EMT at the foot end, and an EMT on each side of the
patient's torso.
Which end of the backboard should go down a flight of stairs first when carrying
a patient on a backboard?
Foot End
Where is most of the weight when carrying a patient in a supine position?
Head End
How far is safe to extend your arms when pulling a patient?
15″ to 20″ in front of your torso
List the four emergency drags that can be used to move patients from life-
threatening scenes.
Clothes drag, blanket drag, arm drag, arm-to-arm drag
In what situations may you use the rapid extrication technique?
The vehicle or scene is unsafe.
• Explosives or other hazardous materials are on scene.
• There is a fire or danger of fire.
• The patient cannot be properly assessed before being removed from the vehicle.
• The patient needs immediate intervention that requires a supine position.
• The patient has a life-threatening position that requires immediate transport to the
hospital.
• The patient blocks your access to another seriously injured patient.
What lift should be used for patients without spinal trauma who are lying supine
on the ground?
Direct Ground Lift
_____ uses various communication techniques and strategies, both verbal and
nonverbal, to encourage patients to express how they are feeling and to achieve a
positive relationship with the patient.
Therapeutic Communication
What are five factors and strategies to consider during communication?
age, eye contact, body language, facial expression and educational background.
When you consider your own cultural values as more important when you are
interacting with people of a different culture, you are displaying...
